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Houzz Tour: Comfort, Character and Color in a Designer’s Own Home
An interior designer remodels her family’s home for their casual lifestyle
Seattle interior designer Harmony Weihs and her husband have four children between them, three of whom still live at home. They wanted a house where they could be comfortable and casual while spending time together. After they’d saved enough, they found a very tight real estate market and limited options for a house with four bedrooms in the kids’ school district.
However, the designer knew she could transform any house into a comfortable and functional home for the family. “It had been seven years since I’d been able to own and remodel a home, and I was so excited to do it again,” she says. In the house they eventually purchased, Weihs acted as both designer and general contractor, adding character and altering the floor plan to accommodate the casual way her family likes to cook, eat, watch games, study, do puzzles, take naps and catch up on each other’s day.
However, the designer knew she could transform any house into a comfortable and functional home for the family. “It had been seven years since I’d been able to own and remodel a home, and I was so excited to do it again,” she says. In the house they eventually purchased, Weihs acted as both designer and general contractor, adding character and altering the floor plan to accommodate the casual way her family likes to cook, eat, watch games, study, do puzzles, take naps and catch up on each other’s day.
Before: The house had some poorly planned architectural details. For example, the entry had a large arched opening to the living room. The way the stair railing was installed in the arch looked weird. Looking into the living room, the fireplace had a traditional surround that awkwardly extended beyond the hearth and chimney.
After: “This entry wasn’t very grand, so I added lots of millwork,” Weihs says. The railings on the stairs are new. The oak hardwood flooring is original, but Weihs had it stained dark for contrast and to tone down the red and orange tones in the wood.
She closed off the living room from the rest of the house to create a quiet library. Because there’s a wall there now, that side of the staircase didn’t require a handrail. The new, smaller opening between the spaces now has a door.
Wall paint throughout the house: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams
She closed off the living room from the rest of the house to create a quiet library. Because there’s a wall there now, that side of the staircase didn’t require a handrail. The new, smaller opening between the spaces now has a door.
Wall paint throughout the house: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams
The library already had a vaulted ceiling. “One of my few must-haves besides a bedroom for each child was a room with a vaulted ceiling,” Weihs says. She added the dark-stained faux beams for character, contrast and texture.
She also redid the fireplace, adding a basalt hearth, sapele mantel and gray tile surround. Then she flanked it with stained-glass windows that she designed and had a local artist fabricate. “This house is really close to the houses on either side, so it was about providing privacy while adding light,” Weihs says. “These windows also serve as artwork.”
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She also redid the fireplace, adding a basalt hearth, sapele mantel and gray tile surround. Then she flanked it with stained-glass windows that she designed and had a local artist fabricate. “This house is really close to the houses on either side, so it was about providing privacy while adding light,” Weihs says. “These windows also serve as artwork.”
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The arched alcove was existing. “This room is narrow, so there was no way the sofa could face the fireplace,” Weihs says. “However, a greenbelt trail runs behind our house, so we have wonderful wooded views. I realized that would be a great view from the sofa and it had to go here.” This meant she needed to cut down her existing velvet sofa to fit the alcove. She also added sconces for reading. Family dog Moose is pictured.
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Before: This was how the wall opposite the fireplace looked.
After: Weihs cozied up the room by outfitting the entire wall opposite the fireplace with bookshelves. “I love high contrast and I love drama. I also love to add some fun,” she says. Here the drama comes from the black stain on the shelves, and the fun comes from the colorful books and sliding ladder.
Weihs placed the new door to the entry within the bookshelves. “I was very intentional about making this a room that could be closed off from the rest of the house,” she says. “I wanted to make it a quiet room where we’d hang out without screens.” The door can block noise from the TV, located in the dining room, making this a good spot to chat, read, study, do puzzles or work with a tutor.
Weihs placed the new door to the entry within the bookshelves. “I was very intentional about making this a room that could be closed off from the rest of the house,” she says. “I wanted to make it a quiet room where we’d hang out without screens.” The door can block noise from the TV, located in the dining room, making this a good spot to chat, read, study, do puzzles or work with a tutor.
Weihs installed shallow shelves on the right to accommodate an existing arched opening on the adjacent wall. They serve as display space for favorite books.
The arches open to a light-filled space with two large picture windows. This is the view from the sofa.
This space used to be the dining room. Weihs transformed it into a lounge. “I wanted this to be a super-comfy spot to do homework, play chess, work on a puzzle or lie on the daybed and daydream,” she says. “When you’re lying on that daybed looking out the window, you feel like you’re in a treehouse.”
Before: The rooms on the other side of the house included the powder room, the kitchen and this family room.
After: Weihs turned the family room into a dining room. “I wanted one large spot to gather and eat,” she says. “This includes the dining room, the kitchen and access to the gas grill outside on the deck.”
She added built-in shelves and cabinetry so she could bring in color through books and other objects on display. They also hold overflow glassware.
She added built-in shelves and cabinetry so she could bring in color through books and other objects on display. They also hold overflow glassware.
“The original fireplace stuck way out into the room and the firebox was low,” Weihs says. She redesigned it, adding a patinaed steel surround and lifting the firebox so they could enjoy viewing the fire from the table.
“My husband and I both love brick, so we installed real brick veneer on this wall ourselves,” the designer says. Next she added two clear leaded glass windows she designed. “I added more arches in here through the design. But I didn’t add color because I wanted the focus to be on the brick,” Weihs says of the windows.
“My husband and I both love brick, so we installed real brick veneer on this wall ourselves,” the designer says. Next she added two clear leaded glass windows she designed. “I added more arches in here through the design. But I didn’t add color because I wanted the focus to be on the brick,” Weihs says of the windows.
All the artwork on this wall was made by members of the family — except the large piece in the center, which is a Samsung Frame TV. “We are a sports family, so we enjoy being able to watch games in here,” Weihs says. The home’s basement is finished, so they head to a room down there with a large sectional sofa for family movie nights.
The dining table is zinc, which plays off the steel fireplace surround. “I wanted to choose chairs that were very comfortable but not basic-looking,” Weihs says. “The color of the chairs also brings in warmth.”
The dining table is zinc, which plays off the steel fireplace surround. “I wanted to choose chairs that were very comfortable but not basic-looking,” Weihs says. “The color of the chairs also brings in warmth.”
To help keep the kitchen counters free of clutter, Weihs took advantage of this thick wall. She outfitted it with a cabinet to catch mail and kids’ stuff and to charge devices. She added an arch at the top to play off the arch motifs seen throughout the home.
Before: Half the original kitchen had been designated as eat-in space.
After: With the new dining room open to the kitchen, Weihs took over the eat-in area with cabinets, counters and the main sink (just out of frame to the left). “The original working part of the kitchen was about half this size,” she says. She placed a new island in the center of the room.
Though she took the kitchen down to the studs, Weihs wanted to work with the existing windows. This saved a significant amount on the budget. “I knew I wanted a 48-inch range, and it worked out really well in between the windows,” she says.
Though she took the kitchen down to the studs, Weihs wanted to work with the existing windows. This saved a significant amount on the budget. “I knew I wanted a 48-inch range, and it worked out really well in between the windows,” she says.
The island has a sapele countertop with a beveled edge. It adds warm contrast and matches the living room mantel. Weihs outfitted the island for china and glassware storage. This took care of storage needs and allowed her to keep the walls free of upper cabinets. The island is close to both of the room’s dishwashers for easy unloading.
The countertops and backsplash are quartzite, a natural stone. “I used a honed finish because we like to keep it casual,” Weihs says.
The countertops and backsplash are quartzite, a natural stone. “I used a honed finish because we like to keep it casual,” Weihs says.
The designer replaced the eat-in area with the main sink, the main dishwasher and additional storage. The windows make working at the sink a pleasant task.
Weihs added an arched nook with open shelves to a windowless part of the wall for interest. “I love the look of white china, and I love looking at it on display here,” she says.
This area also contains a coffee station, a prep sink and a small dishwasher. “I added the prep sink at the last minute, and it’s one of the best things I did. We use it all the time,” Weihs says.
This area also contains a coffee station, a prep sink and a small dishwasher. “I added the prep sink at the last minute, and it’s one of the best things I did. We use it all the time,” Weihs says.
Before: The fridge, pantry cabinets and a kitchen desk ran along the back wall of the kitchen. Also worth noting is that there was an opening to the dining room (now the lounge) and that the thick gray wall on the right contains the new recessed cabinet.
Because she took over the eat-in area with more workspace, Weihs was able to repurpose the area seen along the back wall as a walk-in pantry.
Because she took over the eat-in area with more workspace, Weihs was able to repurpose the area seen along the back wall as a walk-in pantry.
After: Weihs added an arched opening to the new walk-in pantry. She outfitted the space with LED-lit open shelving, a beverage fridge, countertop and drawers for the kids’ snacks.
“We use our toaster and blender daily, but I didn’t want that stuff out on the counters in the kitchen,” she says. “This setup works really well for us.”
“We use our toaster and blender daily, but I didn’t want that stuff out on the counters in the kitchen,” she says. “This setup works really well for us.”
“I love to install shallow shelves in a pantry,” Weihs says. “They keep you organized even if you’re not that organized, because you can see everything that you have and notice what you’re out of when you’re making a shopping list.”
Another intentional choice for the pantry was to avoid using drywall. “With kids, the oils from fingers make all sorts of marks on a painted finish,” Weihs says. She used a plaster finish instead, noting that it’s more durable and stands up to those kinds of stains.
Another intentional choice for the pantry was to avoid using drywall. “With kids, the oils from fingers make all sorts of marks on a painted finish,” Weihs says. She used a plaster finish instead, noting that it’s more durable and stands up to those kinds of stains.
Before: The powder room was no-frills and lacked a window. This was one place where Weihs knew adding a window would be worth the expense.
After: The family loved doing puzzles during the COVID-19 shutdown and also admired their designs. Weihs decided the puzzles would make a great surprise in the powder room. “At first I thought about installing them from floor to ceiling, but that seemed overwhelming,” she says. “I decided to add some moody millwork along the bottom for contrast.”
Installing them was a puzzle in itself. Weihs used Mod Podge to hold the puzzle pieces in place. Then she found she had a lot of large rectangles that varied in size. She fit them together as best she could, using a utility knife when they needed to be trimmed. “Because of the thickness of the puzzles, gluing them to the wall didn’t work out. I wound up using little brass nails to hold them in place,” she says.
Weihs also added the window. “There are a lot of these small, square windows throughout the house,” she says. “I matched this one to match the architecture.”
Installing them was a puzzle in itself. Weihs used Mod Podge to hold the puzzle pieces in place. Then she found she had a lot of large rectangles that varied in size. She fit them together as best she could, using a utility knife when they needed to be trimmed. “Because of the thickness of the puzzles, gluing them to the wall didn’t work out. I wound up using little brass nails to hold them in place,” she says.
Weihs also added the window. “There are a lot of these small, square windows throughout the house,” she says. “I matched this one to match the architecture.”
Weihs wanted to do something fun for the vanity that would serve as a sculptural piece of art. “My first career was in fashion design and sewing, so I decided to use an antique sewing table,” she says. She added a soapstone countertop and backsplash, then mounted the faucets to the wall. The mirror’s frame matches the tones of the sewing table.
The couple’s and the two younger children’s bedrooms are on the upper floor. The teenager in the family is very happy to call the bedroom suite in the finished basement his domain.
In the primary bedroom, Weihs wanted high contrast, drama and a relaxing vibe. The charcoal-and-white color palette she used puts the focus on the beautiful foliage outside.
In fact, the views of the greenbelt helped the couple come to a decision to forgo window treatments. “We have privacy from neighbors due to the greenbelt,” Weihs says. “Also, we like to wake up with the sun. My husband’s previous home had blackout shades and I hated it, as I never knew what time it was.”
In the primary bedroom, Weihs wanted high contrast, drama and a relaxing vibe. The charcoal-and-white color palette she used puts the focus on the beautiful foliage outside.
In fact, the views of the greenbelt helped the couple come to a decision to forgo window treatments. “We have privacy from neighbors due to the greenbelt,” Weihs says. “Also, we like to wake up with the sun. My husband’s previous home had blackout shades and I hated it, as I never knew what time it was.”
For the headboard wall, the same plaster artisan who worked on the pantry created a wall with the look of steel. “It’s amazing, she comes over and adds layer after layer,” Weihs says. The wall’s look is similar to the steel surround of the dining room fireplace.
“While I like the high drama, I also like to add some fun,” Weihs says. Here it comes in the form of the large graphic print on the rug and the colorful artwork on the wall.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
“While I like the high drama, I also like to add some fun,” Weihs says. Here it comes in the form of the large graphic print on the rug and the colorful artwork on the wall.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
The laundry room presented an opportunity to add a lot of color through a lively wallpaper. “If you have to do laundry, it should be fun,” Weihs says. She removed a closet door to create easy access to shelves designed for laundry baskets, linens and supplies.
Wallpaper: Prism Geometric II, Cole & Son
Wallpaper: Prism Geometric II, Cole & Son
Floor plans: The “before” plan is on the left and the “after” plan is on the right. The biggest change to the footprint was closing off the library and lounge from the entry and kitchen (right). The other big change was the addition of the walk-in pantry in the kitchen (center).
The home is now full of casual and comfortable places for the family to spend time together cooking meals, eating, chatting and having screen-free time.
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The home is now full of casual and comfortable places for the family to spend time together cooking meals, eating, chatting and having screen-free time.
More on Houzz
Read more home tour stories
Find a local remodeling professional
Shop for your home
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A blended family with three kids still living at home and a dog named Moose
Location: Seattle
Size: 2,800 square feet (260 square meters); four bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms
Designer: Harmony Weihs of Design Harmony
The house was built in 1995 and hadn’t been renovated since. On the main floor, Weihs reconfigured the floor plan and fully renovated the kitchen and powder room. She partially renovated the other rooms, including adding built-ins, installing stained-glass windows, reconfiguring fireplaces, refacing a dining room wall in brick veneer and redoing the floors. She also closed the living room off from the other spaces to transform it into a quiet, screen-free library.
For the entry, the designer already had the bright yellow console table, and she and her husband have been collecting this art together since they met. These things make a colorful first impression that sets the tone for the house.
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